State Chamber Lists Job-Killer Bills

The California Chamber of Commerce released its annual list of “job killer” bills on Wednesday – and the current tally of 26 is fewer than in recent years.

The bills, which range from a paid sick-leave mandate to an oil extraction tax, would each place excessive burdens on businesses in the state, the chamber said.

“These bills pose a serious threat to our economy,” said Allan Zaremberg, the chamber’s chief executive. “If enacted, they would dampen job growth in the state.”

Of the 26 bills, 10 would increase taxes, seven could increase lawsuits against employers and five would impose new workplace mandates or expand existing ones.

In most previous years, the number of bills the chamber has identified as job-killers has ranged between 30 and 40. Most bills never made it out of the Legislature and to the governor’s desk; of those that did, most were vetoed.

Last year, the chamber identified 38 job killer bills, but only one was sent to Gov. Jerry Brown – a bill to raise the minimum wage to $10 an hour by 2016; Brown signed the bill.

While this year’s tally is smaller, chamber spokeswoman Denise Davis said it could grow as bills are amended and new “spot” bills are introduced during the session.